Stephaf beambach



(No Model.) S. BRAMBAOH.

UPRIGHT PIANO AOTION.

N 322,089. Patented July l4, 1885,

INVENTOR %1444 //4 ill] I 1 I mill. 5' E "Hi-'1' W 1 ATTORNEYS.

N PETERS I nwuhu n vm Wnshmglun D c "Urirran STATES PATENT (Eritrea,

STEPHAN BRAMBACH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UPRiGt-lT-PFANO ACTION.

SIEFEGIEIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No.322,089, dated July 14,1825.

(No mod cl.)

the invention consists of the combination of a jack, a hammer-butt having a forward-extending shoe, and aback-cheek provided with a pivoted and spring-cushioned part for catching the shoe of the hammer-butt and holding it in position on the return of the jack to the haminer-butt.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent side elevations of my improved upright-piano action, showing the same, respectively, in a position of rest and in the act of striking the string; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a part of the same, showing the jack returned to its position on the hammerbutt, while the hammer is still in position on backcheck.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A in the drawings represents the key-lever, to the rear end of which is applied a fixed heel, A, that acts upon the front end of the jack-lever B. The jack-lever B is fulcrumed to a downwardly-extending bracket, 6, of the supporting-rail O of the action and provided at its rear end with the usual wire-arm for operating the damper-lever. The jack D is fulerumed in the usual manner to a raised support, (I, of the jack-lever B, the shorter arm of the jack D being acted upon by a spiral spring, d. At the front end of the jack-lever B is arranged the wire shank E of the backcheck E, also the bridlewire F, to which the bridle F is attached in the usual manner. The bridle F passes through a hole in the downwardly-extending shoe G of the hammerbutt G, and is attached to the hammer-butt G. An adjustable cheek, D, engages the shorter arm of the jack D, while the upper end of the jack engages a felted shoulder of the hammer-butt G and operates thereby the hammer when the key is depressed.

The parts so far described are all old and have been used heretofore, and I do not lay any claim to the same.

My improvement consists in the special construction of the back-eheck E, which consists of two parts, a main part, 0, attached to the upper end of the checlewire E, and of an oscillating catch-piece, e, that is fulcrumed by ears 0 to the recessed upper end of the main part 6. At the upper end of the main part c is arranged a stop screw, f, that regulates the oscillations of the fulcrumed piece e. A spiral spring, f, is interposed between the main part 6 and the lower part of the oscillating catch-piece 6, so as to impart the required elasticity to thelatter. The oscillating piece 6 has a shoulder, at its lower end that serves to arrest the downward motion of the shoe G after the hammer has struck the string. As the shoe is caught by and guided along the oscillating piece 6 until arrested by the shoulderfflthe jack D has an opportunity to return to its position below the shoulder of the hammer-butt G, while the shoe G slides along the face of the oscillating piece e and rests on the shoulder f of the same, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. In this position of the action the hammer is supported at a short distance from the spring and prevented from dropping back to its cushion, so as to be in position for quick repetition, as the length of the stroke is thereby considerably diminished. As soon as the key is released, the bridle returns the hammer to its cushion, while the back-cheek releases the shoe of the hammer-butt and admits its return into a position of rest, as shown in Fig. 1. The action is then ready for the next operation. The oscillating and spring-cushioned part c of the back-cheek E serves also for neutralizing the vibrations of the hammer immediately after its stroke. The essential feature of my invention, however, consists in the quick return of the jack into its position on the hammer-butt by the action of the oscillating piece of the back-check on the shoe of the hammer-butt, whereby repetition is facilitated.

My improvement can be applied to any upright-piano action now in use, as the backeheck can be readily attached to the backcheck wires of the same. The elastic backcheck can also be used in actions for grand and square pianos.

I am aware that piano-actions in which the back-check is provided with an oscillating catch-picee has been used heretofore, and I do not claim the same,broadly.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination,with a jack-lever, a jack, and a hammer-butt having a backwardly-ex- 

